The congressional race opponent of Clay Aiken, the former American Idol runner-up, died at his home Monday as the two men awaited a resolution to a close-fought primary election.

Keith Crisco, 71, a businessman, died from injuries sustained in a fall at his Asheboro, North Carolina, home, according to the Asheboro Courier-Tribune. The paper was first to publish the news, later confirmed by an employee at Crisco’s company, Asheboro Elastics Corp. Emergency personnel pronounced Crisco dead at the scene.

Aiken led Crisco by only 369 votes, with some ballots left to be counted, after Tuesday’s Democratic primary in North Carolina’s second district. Crisco was preparing on Monday to concede the race, the Raleigh News & Observer reported. The winner was to face Republican incumbent Renee Ellmers.

The state board of elections released a statement Monday. “A native of North Carolina, we are grateful for Mr Crisco's service to our state and his community through the years,” the board said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Crisco family during this difficult time.”

Crisco, a former city council member and state secretary of commerce, had been married 49 years and had three children and six grandchildren.